February 5, 2015

Betsy Boone, My "Cover Girl"

I am saddened to hear of the recent passing of Libia Rosa and Betsy Boone, two of my favorite people inPOUND RIDGE PAST: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk. I was truly honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to interview both of them ... such gracious ladies of Pound Ridge. (Coincidentally, both of their interviews are back-to-back in my book: "Betsy Boone: A Honey Hollow Perspective" is on page 118. "Libia Rose: The Strength of 'The Miracle Tree'" is on page 124.)

A few weeks after my initial interview with Betsy, I returned to her house to ask permission to use the magnificent portrait taken by Fran Collin (photographer extraordinaire) for the cover of the book (designed by the ever-amazing Gina Federico). For some reason, I was a bit nervous and waited for the exact right moment. As I sipped a glass of sherry, I finally asked the "big question." Betsy immediately responded that she was delighted to be "The Cover Girl" (her words). Her beauty surely graces my book.

I will always remember Libia for the delicious brownies she served the afternoon we met. She was a woman of strength and fine character.

Betsy, too, had grace and snap. I will always remember her wonderful yellow sneakers that matched her yellow car that matched her yellow house.

I am forever grateful to Libia for her time and thoughtfulness ... and to Betsy Boone, too, for saying "yes" to be "The Cover Girl" of Pound Ridge Past.

Bonni's Bio (https://plus.google.com/+BonniBrodnick/about)

Bonni Brodnick is author of "POUND RIDGE PAST" and muses about life at "Bonni Brodnick Blog: A Blurb-ologist's Perspective" An award-winning communications specialist and writer, Bonni has been a HuffPost contributor since 2012, has written for Glamour, and House & Garden magazines, The Los Angeles Herald Examiner Sunday magazine, Bedford Magazine, Greenwich Magazine, and Children's Television Workshop. She is a former member of Writers Guild of America, East. Bonni has appeared on TV: ABC-TV "Good Morning America"; WNBC-TV "Live at Five"; and WCVB-TV [an ABC affiliate] "Good Morning Boston". She founded/wrote a weekly newspaper column, "Talk of the Town," for Bedford-Pound Ridge (N.Y.) Record-Review. Most importantly, she is a really fast typer.